Catch



Patented May 11, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,079,648 CATCH Illinois Application October 23, 1933, Serial No. 694,703

13 Claims.

The invention relates generally to catches and more particularly to a spring catch for the door of a cabinet or the like.

The general object of the invention is to provide a catch of this type which effectively holds the door in a closed position, which is easy to operate, and whichcannot easily become broken or inoperative through wear.

Another object is to provide a catch the parts of which each serve but one main function whereby each part may be made of material best suited to its function.

A further object is to provide a catch which isadapted to coact with a strike and which is so constructed that, should the catch and strike be relatively mis-alined, undue stress will not be placed upon any of the parts of the catch.

Still another objectjs to provide a catch for a cabinet door in which a slightly greater force is required to open the door than is required to close it, thus efiectively retaining the door in a closed position.

' A still further object is to provide a catch and a strike therefor, which are so constructed that the strike may be engaged by the catch in different relative positions.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a catch embodying the features of the invention and mounted on a cabinet in which the door is approaching its closed position and the strike is about to engage the catch.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and showing the door moved nearer its closed position than in Fig. 1 with the strike partially engaging the catch.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 and shows the door fully closed.

.Fig. 4 is a side elevational view showing the door partially open.

3 Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified form of catch.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of another modified form of catch, with the door partially open.

Fig. '7 is a side elevational View of the catch shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lineB-S of Fig. 7 butshowing the position of the parts when the door is closed.

A catch embodying the features of the invention is adapted to be mounted on a fixed portion of. the cabinet adjacent the door, and is preferably mounted on the underside of a shelf in the cabinet. It is in said preferred position in which it is herein illustrated, the shelf being indicated at A and the door of the cabinet indicated at B. The catch comprises generally a supporting base adapted to be fixedly mounted adjacent the door, a pair of movable contact members supported by said base and adapted to be engaged by a strike carried by the door, and spring means yieldably resisting movement of said members.

Catches of a somewhat similar nature, as they have heretofore been made, usually comprise but one piece of metal shaped so that a portion thereof is attached to the cabinet, other portions are engaged by the strike, and the intervening portions of the metal serve as springs. It is impossible to give to one piece of metal the physical characteristics of hardness, wearing quality, and resilience which are best suited to these various functions. These catches usually comprise two legs extending outwardly from the portion attached to the cabinet and the strike is adapted to enter therebetween and to spread them apart. With such a construction, no tension resisting movement of the two legs occurs until they are forced apart, so that the catch lacks snap. Moreover, should the catch and strike be misalined, one of the two legs may receive all the stress while the other receives practically none. Such inequality often causes one of the legs to crystallize and break.

The present catch avoids these difiiculties by providing separate parts for the several functions, each part serving but one principal function, and being made of a metal having physical characteristics best suited for that function. The spring means thus may be so carried by the supporting base that it always bears against the contact members with such pressure that the device acts with considerable snap. The spring means is also so carried by the supporting base that its pressure on the contact members is equalized in all positions thereof so that, when the catch and strike are mis-alined, the two contact members will bear with equal pressure against the strike.

In the preferred form of the device, shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the supporting base, indicated at It], "comprises a piece of sheet metal adapted to be mounted adjacent the door in a fixed portion of the cabinet, such as the under side of the shelf A, and to be rigidly secured thereto as by screws I l. Formed integrally with the base are a pair of extensions 12 which are bent perpendicular to the base I0 to extend in a strike.

spaced face-to-face relation. Each extension has a rectangular aperture l3 therein for supporting one of the contact members.

The contact members are movably supported by the respective extensions l2, the movement preferably being pivotal. Each contact member is generally U-shaped and comprises a portion l4 extending inwardly through the aperture l3 toward the other contact member, and flange portions 15 bearing against the outer face of the extension I2 to limit the inward movement of' the contact member. In the present instance, each contact member comprises a strip of sheet metal bent to provide the portion M with its ends constituting the flange portions 55.

The contact members are adapted to be forced apart by a strike, indicated at It, carried by the door. The strike is generally wedge-shaped and comprises a strip of sheet metal bent to provide a rounded forward end ll flaring outwardly to an enlarged portion and then receding as at l8, the ends of the strip being bent to provide a portion for attachment to the door B. The strike, on movement'of the door, forces the contact members apart and tends to give them a pivotal movement since it first engages them at their inner ends. In closing the door, the pivotal movement of the contact members is away from the door, so that they are constructed to pivot on their ends nearer the door. Thus, the edge of the flange portion l5, of each contact member, nearer the door constitutes a pivotal axis. To permit such pivotal movement without any binding action, the inwardly extending portion M of each contact member is formed on arcs about the two end edges as centers.

The spring means is constructed to yieldably resist the movement of the contact members and comprises a strip 20 of resilient metal bent in a U-shape with its ends turned inwardly to enter the middle portion I 4 of each contact member and bear thereagainst. The spring is so formed that it exerts a pressure on the contact members even when they are not in engagement with the Thus, when the contact members are engaged by the strike, their action will have considerable snap.

One of the features of the invention is to so construct the catch that, should the catch and strike be mis-alined, the pressure on both contact members will be equalized. To this end, the spring is supported by the base I 0 in such a manher that the spring may shift slightly relative to. the base. For this purpose, the supporting base I0 is provided with a portion 2| bent'to project within the bend of the spring and having notches 22 in its side edges to receive the spring. Thus, should the strike be mis-alined with the catch and engage one of the contact members before the other, thepressure created thereby in one side of the spring will cause the spring to shift slightly to equalize the pressure on both contact members. It is to be noted that the spring shown herein is relatively long so that the stress thereon is not severe. This feature, together with the fact that pressure of the spring is equalized on both contact members, prevents breakage of the spring by crystallization.

Another feature of this form of catch is that in view of the fact thatyif each contact member ber would be to pivot about its edge farther from the door. If the contact members were to pivot in this manner, the resistance offered to closing the door would be equal to the resistance offered. to opening' To increase the resistance offered to opening, each contact member is prevented from pivoting about its edge farther from the door by a lug 23 integral with the extension 12 and bent around the end edge nearer the door, of the contact member. Thus, the lug 23 confines the contact member to pivotal movement about said edge both on opening and closing the door, so that greater resistance is offered to opening the door than to closing it. p

In the form shown in Fig. 5, the lugs 23 are omitted so that each contact may pivot about one end edge on closing the door and about the other end edge on opening the door. Thus, in this form, the resistance to opening and to closing the door is equal.

In the form of the device shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the apertures, indicated at 30, in the extensions l2 are round, and the contact members, indicated at 3|, are bullet-shaped or generally ogival with their rounded ends extending inwardly through the apertures 30 in spaced coaxial relation. The outer end of each contact member is flanged as at 32 to bear against the outer face of the extension l2 and limit the inward movement of the member. Each member is preferably drawn from sheet metal and hence has a depression 33 in its outer face.

The spring, in the present instance, is a round wire 34 bent to a U-shape and having its ends turned inwardly to enter the depressions 33 in the respective members, as shown in Fig. 8. The spring is shiftab-ly supported by the base 10-, similarly to the spring shown in Figs. 1 to 4, so; that the pressure on the contact members is always equalized.

The strike used with this form of contact member comprises a strip of metal secured to the door and having a pair of spaced arms 36 extending perpendicularly to the inner face of the door and to the axis of the bullet-shaped contact members. The ends of the arms 36 are integrally connected, and in each arm, adjacent its end, is a depression or hole adapted to receive the bullet-shaped portion of the contact members.

Since the strike moves generally in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the contact members, and since the contact members are round, the strike may approach said members in any direction lying in said plane. For example, Fig. 7 shows the strike moving parallel to the shelf A to reach its engaged position. It will be evident that the strike could be moved perpendicularly to the shelf A from. a point directly below the contact members into an engaged position. This permits the catch and strike to be mounted in a number of different relative positions, 50 that the catch may be used on different types of cabinets.

In the operation of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the strike 5' having a wedgeshaped end moving inwardly toward the contact members, forces these members a art with a pivotal movement of the members about the edges thereof nearer the door. Such movement of the contact members is yieldably resisted by the spring 20*. Should the catch and strike be mis-alined so that the strike moves one of the contact members more than the other, the spring 20, being shiftably supported by the base I0,

will shift so that the pressure thereof on the two members will be equalized. This fact, together with the fact that the spring is relatively long prevents undue distortion of the spring and avoids the danger of breakage of the spring from crystallization.

The strike causes the contact members to move apart until the widest part of the strike has passed, and then to pivot back toward each other. However, the contact members are kept partially spread apart when the door is fully closed as shown in Fig. 3. The pressure of the contact members when the strike is so positioned firmly ,holds the strike and prevents the doorfrom :rattling.

' On opening the door, the movement of the strike tends to cause the contact members to pivot about their ends farther from the door. 'However, such pivotal movement is prevented by the lugs 23 on the extensions [2. These lugs (confine the movement to pivotal movement about the ends of the contact member nearer the door. In this manner, greater force is required to open the door than to close it.

It is to be noted that each part of the catch has but one main function. Thus, the supporting base serves only as a support for the other parts, the contact members serve only as the parts to be engaged by the strike, and the spring serves to resist the movement of the contact members. Each part may, therefore, be made of material having characteristics best suited to its single function. Thus, the catch cannot easily become broken or inoperative through wear.

The catch shown in Fig. 5 operates in a similar manner to the catchshown in Figs. 1 to 4, except that the lugs 23 shown in the first form are omitted. Thus, in the catch shown in Fig. 5, substantially the same resistance is offered to closing as to opening the door.

In the form shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the bullet-shaped contact members 3| pivot on their flanges 32 when engaged by the strike 36. The flange 32 is unrestricted in serving as a pivot, .so that the portion of the flange nearer the door :serves as the pivot on closing the door, and the portion of the flange farther from the door serves as the pivot on opening the door. As the door moves toward its closed position, the contact members are spread apart until their bulletshaped ends 3| slip into the holes 35 in the arms 36 and firmly but yieldably hold the door in its closed position.

In this form, the strike moves substantially in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the bulletshaped members. As illustrated, it moves in a direction in said plane, which is parallel to the shelf A. However, it is evident that the strike could be moved to an engaging position in a direction in said plane perpendicular to the shelf, since the contact members are round and present a similar contact surface to the strike in any direction in said plane. This fact permits this form of catch to be used on different types of cabinets since it permits the catch to be attached to surfaces parallel or perpendicular to the direction of movement of the strike.

From the above description, it will be apparent that we have provided a catch which effectively holds the door in place, which is easy to operate, and which cannot easily become broken or inoperative through wear, since each part of the device serves but one main function and may be made of a material having physical characteristics best suited to that function. It will also be apparent that, in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the greater resistance is offered to opening the door than to closing it, and in Figs. 6 to 8, the catch may be mounted in different positions relative to the strike, so that it may be used on different types of cabinets.

We claim as our invention:

1. A catch for the door of a cabinet or the like comprising, in combination, a supporting base adapted to be fixedly mounted adjacent the door and having a pair of spaced extensions, a pair of spaced contact members pivotally mounted on I and separately supported by the respective extensions and adapted to be pivoted away from each other by a strike carried by the door and adapted to enter. between said members, the pivotal axes of said contact members for entering movement of the strike being located at the front portion of said members, and a spring carried by said supporting base and tending to pivot said contact members toward each other.

2. A catch for the door of a cabinet or the like comprising, in combination, a supporting base adapted to be fixedly mounted adjacent the door and having a pair of spaced extensions facing each other, each having an aperture therein,

a pair of contact members supported by the respective extensions and having flange portions resting on the outer faces of the extensions and portions bent to project inwardly through said apertures, said members being adapted to ,be forced apart by a wedge-shaped strike carried by the door and adapted to enter between said members, and a spring carried by said supporting base to yieldably resist movement thereof by the strike, said spring having its ends positioned in the inwardly bent portions of the contact members to prevent disengagement of the spring therefrom.

3. A catch for the door of a cabinet or the like comprising, in combination, a supporting base adapted to be fixedly mounted adjacent the door and having a pair of spaced extensions facing each other with apertures therein, a pair of U-shaped contact members, each having its ends bent outwardly to bear against the outer face of one of said extensions with its middle portion extending inwardly through the aperture in the extension, said members being adapted to be forced outwardly by a wedge-shaped strike carried by the door and adapted to be forced between said middle portions by the closing of the door, and a U-shaped spring carried by said sup porting base and having inwardly turned ends entering and bearing against the middle portions of said contact members to yieldably resist outward movement thereof.

4. A catch for the door of a cabinet or the like comprising, in combination, a supporting base adapted to be fixedly mounted adjacent the door and having a pair of spaced extensions, a pair of movable contact members carried by the respective extensions, means on said extensions for limiting the movement of said members to pivotal movement about their forward ends, said members being adapted to be pivoted by a strike carried by the door and adapted to be forced between said members by the closing of the door,

and spring means yieldably resisting pivotal movementof said members.

5; A'catch for the door of a cabinet or the like comprising, in combination, a supporting base adapted to be fixedly mounted adjacent the door and having a pair of spaced extensions facing each other with apertures therein, a pair of movable contact members, each having its ends bearing against the outer face of one of said extensions and its middle portion bent in a U-shape and extending" inwardly through the aperture in said extension, each of said extensions at theend nearestthe doorhaving a portion bent around the end edge of the contact member to confine the contact member to pivotal movement about said end edge, said members being adapted to be pivoted outwardly by a strike carried by the door and forced between said members, and spring means yieldably resisting pivotal movement of said members.

6. A catch for the door of a cabinet or the like comprising, in combination, a supporting base adapted to be fixedly mounted adjacent the door and comprising a piece of sheet metal having spaced portions bent perpendicularly thereto to stand in face-to-face position, each of said portions having an aperture therein, a pair of movable contact members carriedby the respective spaced portions, each contact member comprising a strip of sheet metal bent into a U-shape with its middle portion extending inwardly through the aperture in the spaced portion and having its ends bent sidewardly to bear against the outer face of said spaced portion, said contact members being adapted to be forced outwardly by a strike carried by the door and adapted to be forced between said members on closing of the door, and a spring made of a strip of resilient metal having its ends bent to enter the U of the contact members to yieldably resist movement thereof.

7. A catch for the door'of a "cabinet-or the like comprising, in combination, a supporting base adapted to be fixedly mounted adjacent the door, a pair of contact members mounted on said base for movement away from each other by a strike and generally laterally of the direction of movement of said strike, spring means yieldably resisting movement of said members, said strike tending to cause said members to .follow the movement of the strike and thereby pivot about their ends adjacent the door on closing the door and about their opposite ends on opening the door, and means for confining the members to pivotal movement about their ends adjacent the door for both directions of movement of the strike whereby greater resistance is offered to opening the door than to closing the door.

8. A catch for the door of a cabinet or the like comprising, in combination, a supporting base adapted to be fixedly mounted adjacent the door, a pair of contact members carried by said sup- ,porting base, each constructed for pivotal movement about either of its ends, said members being adapted to be pivoted bya strike carried by the door, each of said members pivoting about one end on closing of the door-and about the other end on opening of the door, and spring means yieldably resisting the pivotal movements of said members about either'of their ends.

9. A catch for the door of a cabinet or-the like comprising, in combination, a supporting base adapted to be fixedly mounted adjacent the door and having a pair of spaced extensions in face-toface relation with apertures therein, a pair of contact members each comprising a generally ogival portion extending inwardly through the aperture in one of said extensions, and a flange at its outer end bearing against the outer face of said extension, said members being adapted to be forced outwardly by a strike carried by the door and adapted to be forced between the members by closing the door, and spring means yieldably resisting movement of said members, the ogival form of said contact members permitting approach of the strike from any direction in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said members.

10. A- catch for the door of a cabinet or the like comprising, in combination, a supporting base adapted to be fixedly mounted adjacent the door and having a pair of extensions with apertures therein, a pair of contact members each having a depression in its outer face and a bullet-shaped portion extending inwardly through the aperture, said members being adapted to be forced outwardly by a strike carried by the door and adapted to be forced between said members by closing the door, and a U-shaped spring made of resilient wire carried by said supporting base and having its ends turned inwardly to enter'the depressions in the outer faces of the contact members for yieldably resisting movement of said members.

11. A catch for the door of a cabinet or the like comprising, in combination, a supporting base adapted to be fixedly mounted adjacent the door, a pair of contact members carried by said base in spaced coaxial relation and. adapted to be forced apart by a strike carried on the door, and a spring carried by said base with its ends bearing against the respective members and tending to force said members toward each other with equal pressure, said members having generally rounded contact portions and said supporting base being fashioned to expose said contact portions to action by said strike moving in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said members and approaching said members from any one of a plurality of directions lying in said plane.

12. A catch for the door of a cabinet or the like comprising, in combination, a supporting base adapted to be mounted adjacent the door and comprising a piece of sheet metal having spaced extensions bent perpendicularly thereto to stand in face-to-face position, each of said extensions having an aperture therein, a pair of movable sheet metal contact members carried by the respective spaced extensions and having flange portions bearing against the outer faces of the extensions and portions extending through said apertures toward each other, said contact members being adapted to be forced outwardly by a strike carried by the door and adapted to be forced betweensaid members on closing of the door, and spring means bearing against said members to yieldably resist movement thereof by the strike.

13. A catch for the door of acabinet or the like comprising, in combination, a supporting base adapted to be fixedly mounted adjacent the door, a pair of contact members, means for pivotally supporting said contact members on-said base for pivotal movement'solely about their ends adjacent'the door whereby when said members are moved by a strike moving in a direction to separate said member, said members are prevented from following the movement of the strike upon opening the door and greater resistance is offered to opening the door-than toclosing the door, and spring means yieldably resisting movement of saidcontact members.

. GEDOR W. ALDEEN.

THORSTEN ERICKSON. 

